player safety
Instituting an emergency action plan
An emergency action plan (EAP) is critical for every venue at which practice sessions, conditioning activities, and competitive events are conducted. An EAP is a written document that outlines procedures to be implemented and personnel... more »
Make baseline testing a requirement to help prevent concussions
Take every bit of technology, every ounce of knowledge, and enact every piece of legislation. You're still not going to prevent concussions. That doesn't mean we should stop trying to diminish the number of head... more »
Evaluating and preventing MCL injuries in athletes
The knee is one of the most frequently injured joints in the body, primarily because it has poor bony stability and relies on ligaments and muscles for its stability. Because the knee is situated between... more »
Keeping the shoulder healthy
The importance of normal shoulder function is generally unappreciated until routine daily activities become difficult to perform. Has your star pitcher ever indicated having felt something give in the shoulder while pitching in a game... more »
21 tips on reducing sports injuries
“Redux” means brought back or restored. The word is appropriate, as we have moved from a pre-1960 attitude of “sports injuries are part of the game,” to becoming aware that there are ways to lower... more »
The telltale signs of heat-related illness in student-athletes
With summer right around the corner, it's important to keep in mind the signs of heat-related illness in your student-athletes. Each year, an estimated 240 people die from heat-related illnesses, and heat stroke is the... more »
Maine Athletics unveil new fueling station
Maine Athletics, in conjunction with Hannaford Supermarkets, is excited to officially announce the opening of the Black Bears Fueling Station in Memorial Gymnasium. "We are excited to continue to enhance the student-athlete experience at UMaine... more »
Study: suicide second-leading cause of death for college athletes
University of Washington researchers have shared the findings from a 20-year study on the mental health of college student-athletes. The findings show that suicide is the second-leading cause of death for college-aged student-athletes with the... more »
Michigan bill would require public schools to have AEDs
Michigan lawmakers have brought forth a series of bills that would require schools to have automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and an emergency action plan around student-athletes suffering a cardiac event. Earlier this week, the Michigan... more »
Study suggests mental health struggles prolong concussion recovery time
Researchers from the Minds Matter Concussion Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) found that youth with pre-existing mental health diagnoses experienced a greater burden from emotional symptoms after concussion, as well as a prolonged time to... more »
Research shows effects of head impacts on the brain
Dalhousie University neuroscience researchers are investigating how head impacts lead to injuries in football players. Preliminary findings show that the intensity of a single hit doesn't have as much of an impact as the accumulation... more »
Preliminary findings from college sports concussions study revealed
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center's O'Donnell Brain Institute began studying how college sports resulting sports-related concussions impact brain wellness later in life back in 2022. The preliminary findings from that two-year study from... more »
Study: Adolescents with concussion may benefit from early activity
Researchers at Nationwide Children's Hospital have found that when it comes to concussion recovery, activity type matters. In a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers found that limiting screen time and... more »
The differences between aerobic & anaerobic exercise
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), the American College of Sports Medicine, and the U.S. Department of Health all recommend at least 30 minutes of exercise five days a week for anyone between... more »
Pennsylvania referee dies after collapsing during JV basketball game
A Pennsylvania high school referee died after collapsing during halftime of a game over the weekend. Michael Roebuck, 46, collapsed while refereeing a junior varsity basketball game and later died en route to the hospital.... more »
New study suggests brain changes in football players who are subject to head impacts
A study published recently in the JAMA Network Open involving MRI research that adolescent football players are susceptible to a variety of brain changes due to head impacts from playing. Researchers reviewed findings from structural... more »
AAP highlights overtraining and burnout in youth sports
Children and teens reap many physical and mental health benefits from participating in youth sports, but research shows about 70 percent of them drop out of these organized activities by age 13. The American Academy... more »
Study reveals longer term impact of sports-related brain injuries
Almost half of people who suffer a sports-related traumatic brain injury are still experiencing physical symptoms after six months, a new study by the University of Stirling has found. Researchers also found that certain sports... more »
Exercises to help female golfers
Strength and mobility are two crucial pillars of golf fitness that all golfers should incorporate to improve their game and prevent injuries. This is particularly important for female players, who have a menstrual cycle and... more »
New study to further explore connection between the brain and body
A new Western-led study will further explore the relationship between physical and cognitive health. Adrian Owen, a world-renowned neuroscientist, will be driving the study through a pioneering series of online brain games. A recent story... more »
ISU to study effectiveness of exercise on people with mental health struggles
An Iowa State University associate professor of kinesiology wants to know more about how and why—and what type of—exercise matters in an individual's mental health. Jacob Meyer, the ISU associate professor, is setting out on... more »
Illinois med student helping bridge the gap in concussion research for high schoolers
New research from the Carle Illinois College of Medicine suggests there are new ways to improve detecting concussions in high school student-athletes. A recent story from WCIA.com detailed the research being done at the Carle... more »
Pennsylvania ATC wants expanded authority for athletic trainers
The athletic training profession is often misunderstood by the general public. The title of an athletic trainer may not even describe their job duties effectively. The training and education it takes to receive athletic training... more »
Athletic trainer saves Utah student-athlete’s life during sudden cardiac arrest
Thanks to the quick actions of an athletic trainer, a Utah student-athlete is recovering safely after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest last week. Sixteen-year-old Dean Phillips had just finished a set of front squats in... more »
New Jersey bill could combat sudden cardiac arrest in athletics
A New Jersey congressman has introduced a bill to combat sudden cardiac arrest in young people, particularly student-athletes. Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ-06) introduced the bill, entitled the Cardiomyopathy Health, Education, Awareness, Research, and Training in... more »
WCU teams up with Penn State on concussion impact research
In the spring of 2021, Clayton Bardall approached Martin Tanaka, a professor in WCU’s College of Engineering and Technology, about a project to use instrumented mouthguards to record head impacts with the hope of making... more »
Study suggests physical activity reduces risk of breast cancer
Regular leisure time physical activity may reduce the risk of breast cancer for women before menopause, according to new researchers from The Institute of Cancer Research, London. The article, published Monday 11 December in the Journal of Clinical... more »
NCAA launches initiative to study online abuse in college sports
The NCAA announced today that it has engaged Signify Group to provide its Threat Matrix artificial intelligence service to support the Association in studying and responding to online abuse and threats directed at NCAA Championship... more »
UAB Sports & Exercise Medicine opens new clinic
The University of Alabama-Birmingham Sports and Exercise Medicine service line opens its new clinic at UAB Hospital-Highlands on Monday. It moves from its former location on the first floor to a newly renovated clinical space... more »
Get proactive about student-athlete concussions
Most people have seen the headlines about concussions as a common sports injury—and, naturally, parents of athletes may have concerns. A large misconception in sports is that previous concussions are to be blamed for ongoing... more »
